That has been my parting word in conference opportunities, usually talking to church staffers who are wanting to go (or have already gone) multisite, and are looking to us for guidance.

Most of the time, I am talking about control. The biggest learning for anyone who is looking to reproduce anything exponentially (and for us, seeking to Help People Find Their Way Back to God and reproduce leaders and campuses to get us there) is that you have to let go of what you think you have the ability to control.

And boy do I have to learn that one now. It seems like every jar o'stuff that I'm "in charge of" over here at Community is being prodded, kicked, investigated, and lots and lots of changes are being proposed.

The problem is, that it's not me who is recommending the changes. It's other people. And that is my current lesson with control. I need to "Let Go, Luke" and give others the opportunity to shape the conversation, to make the decisions.

Why? Because true reproducing involves trust, and letting go. Otherwise, you're not really letting go - you're pretending. I don't want to be a pretender. I want to let go.

So I guess what I'm saying is, I've got to start taking my own advice.

And by my own advice, of course, I mean Obi-Wan Kenobi's.

Comments

Patricia A

07/15/2010 9:16pm

A wise man, Obi-Wan is! Giving up control over something about which you are so passionate is tough. I think when we let go, we leave open so many possibilities for not only our own growth, but the growth of the Church. Blessings on you as you move into this changing phase.

Reply

krisitne Knight-Holzwarth

07/16/2010 12:09am

Dear Obi-Wan,I am writting this letter to you because I have been told (by a little bird) that you are having a control issue and need to take your own advice...Well-heck who takes their own advice anyway?

So here is mine...Growth comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. Just when we think it is one shade of blue it turns into pink. Just when we have it charted as 2 it turns into 4. Just when we fit the square peg into the square box that same box becomes a circle...

This is what I have come to understand...we don't want things to stop growing because such = no change, no new learning, no new life at all...if everthing stayed the same ~ who would we be?? What would we do? Think of it as the change of seasons...or better yet ~ the season(s) of life that God gives us. We want what God has to offer us, right!! Enjoy each step of life, each breath you take, each new day...as it is Gods will for us to live in a life full of change, other wise we would never know the difference between blue or pink, the number 2 or 4 and square would be the other part of circle...

Show Gods Kindom that change is NOT the ability to control the start of the race and who crosses the finish line...growth is every step between ~ learning that the only ONE who is in control and defines when we stop, each step we take and if/when/how we all cross the finish line = Our Father God!!!